In the 1920s, the Binkley Brothers String Band became a part of a show that
was growing in Nashville, Tennessee - the WSM Grand Ole Opry. But the Solemn Old Judge,
George D. Hay, as he had did with other groups, renamed them the Binkley Brothers
and the Dixie Clodhoppers. He wanted the groups to have 'colorful' names.

They appear to have joined the Opry as one of the early pioneering acts prior to 1927.

Author Charles K. Wolfe noted in his book "A Good Natured Riot" that the group was hired
on by WLAC to be a part of a Saturday night competing program called "The Sorghum Symphony"
that was started in June of 1928. Mr. Wolfe makes the case for the first commercial recording
was that came from Nashville and the Binkley Brothers could be seen as the first as they
had the first record issued.
You'll find more about the group in that early era in Nashville in Mr. Wolfe's ook.

Timeline & Trivia Notes

Group members:

Amos Binkley

Gale Binkley, fiddle

Credits & Sources

A Good-Natured Riot; The Birth Of The Grand Ole Opry;
Charles K. Wolfe; 1999; Country Music Foundation Press and Vanderbilt Press;
Nashville, TN